An eternal flashlight - how to make a simple and quick device with your own hands. Eternal lanterns (dynamo lanterns). Brief overview of interesting models

Hello to all readers and admirers of the Radioschema website! Today I want to talk about the creation of an “eternal” lantern. For a long time there has been an idea to assemble a flashlight that works using muscle power, converting the mechanical energy of rotation into light. This flashlight has a very big advantage over others - its battery cannot run out. But of course, it is not without its drawback - you will have to work to shine it on them. Therefore, its first purpose is to work in emergency mode (if the batteries are dead), when you urgently need to shine a light somewhere, for example, to screw in plugs in an electrical panel. Since during long-term work, a person will simply get tired of turning the handle of the flashlight.

Flashlight dynamo circuit

Printing the case on a 3D printer

So, there was an idea, but it was difficult for it to materialize, since it was necessary to assemble a gearbox with an electric motor and stuff it into some kind of housing, and for most radio amateurs, the housing is a “stumbling block.” But this task has been radically simplified with the purchase of an inexpensive 3D printer. Now the construction of any housing for a radio-electronic device is limited only by the author’s imagination.

The first pancake, as usual, was lumpy: I printed out the case, not yet knowing what the finished device would look like, taking the first engine I came across as a generator. It turned out that even with a very fast rotation of the handle there was not enough voltage to stable operation lantern Then, taught by bitter experience, I approached the question more intelligently. I took a bunch of existing engines and tested them for suitability for this project.

We do this: clamp the motor shaft into a screwdriver, give maximum speed and measure voltage and current short circuit motor. Accordingly, we select the best copy. According to my observations, it is best to take a high-voltage (12 -24 volt) and low-revving motor.

Further on the gearbox: I used factory gears, since my 3D modeling program does not have a library for constructing the latter and I am currently printing from PLA plastic, but it is not resistant to wear. The drive gear and motor were used from some kind of electric corrector for car headlights, the intermediate (large) one from the disc drive of the AIWA music center, the last one (on the motor) from a children's car. The lens was used from a non-working Chinese headlamp. On the plus side: it has a lens and the ability to change the focal length. The light source is a three-watt LED; it, of course, is not used “to its full potential,” but in terms of reliability it has no equal (with such a low load).

As you know, such flashlights have one more drawback - they shine while you turn the handle. In order to at least to some extent smooth out this drawback, I installed ionistors in the case, total capacity at two farads. And in parallel with the latter, a five-volt zener diode, since the maximum voltage for these ionistors is 5.5 volts, and the generator is capable of delivering up to 12 volts without load. There is a switch installed in the side wall of the device that disconnects the LED from the ionistors; if not needed, you can turn it off and a charge will remain in the ionistor for later use. In the off position, when the knob is rotated, the process of charging the ionistors occurs.

Photo of the manufacturing process

In our world, quite a lot of people are engaged in homemade experiments in home laboratories and workshops. For some, it is a way to assert themselves, for others, it is a desire to develop their abilities. So what if it’s an experiment made from hastily glued parts. The main thing is that the device or circuit works. Today we will analyze just such an invention, made almost on our knees. However, it is based on unshakable principles and laws of physics that cannot be denied.
We will talk about a flashlight that works without batteries. Perhaps someone has already seen it on the Internet simple generator Faraday, which allows you to light a small LED from several movements of the conductor in the winding. Assemblies from an almost dead battery, autotransformer and transistor, which are capable of powering a 3V LED at an initial voltage of tenths of a volt, are also no longer uncommon.
Here the author went a little further, modernizing the device circuit, adding a rectifier, a supercapacitor (ionistor), resistance and completely eliminating the power source. As a result, the flashlight's operation has become much more stable and efficient. And if you shake the case for a few minutes, it can be charged at long time LED operation. How does this work? Let's figure it out.

Operating principle

The necessary resource base for homemade products

• PVC pipe, diameter 20 mm;
• Copper wire, diameter – 0.5 mm;
• Low-power reverse conduction transistor;
• Diode bridge or rectifier 2W10;
• Resistor;
• Supercapacitor or ionistor 1F 5.5V
• Switch button;
• LED white or blue at 5V;
• Transparent epoxy resin type adhesive;
• Hot glue;
• Pieces of plywood, cotton wool;
• Copper wiring insulation.

• Soldering iron;
• Hot glue gun;
• Hacksaw for metal;
• File, sandpaper.

Flashlight making process

A flashlight is an indispensable thing. And if this is an eternal flashlight, then it simply has no price. It can come in handy at any moment: there is a power outage in the apartment, an unforeseen situation can happen on a trip, in the garage, at the dacha. Just imagine what will happen if the battery runs out at the most inopportune moment. But if the flashlight has a dynamo, then there is nothing to worry about. You will always be with the light.

What is a dynamo lantern

The dynamo flashlight is different from others in that it does not have batteries. It may have:

• a handle that must be turned to recharge;
• a lever that can be pressed repeatedly to facilitate charging;
• There is another option - just shake the lantern, and an hour of work is guaranteed.

Eternal Lantern can work without time limit. The service life depends on the durability of the light bulb built into it. Modern dynamo flashlight - LED. It can work for more than ten years continuously due to autonomous charging.

It is also called a Faraday flashlight. The device is quite simple. The lamp has a metal core and a coil. When they interact, an electric current arises. The Eternal Lantern is equipped Ni-MH battery. The lantern is equipped with one or more LED lamps. If there is one lamp, then it is placed in the center, if there are several, then around the center.

The functionality of this device for the hunter

A rechargeable dynamo flashlight, due to the fact that it does not require batteries to function, is in demand by hunters, fishermen and tourists. Real dynamo lights are quite expensive, but they serve the purpose - they really last a long time and provide a decent level of quality.

The Eternal Flashlight is indispensable for true trackers. There is no need to save money when choosing a flashlight.

Advantages of a Faraday flashlight:

1. Compact, light. A quality dynamo light is waterproof. Such lamps are very light in weight, they are compact, and have excellent protection against damage and shock.
2. Multifunctionality. Using a flashlight you can charge phones and cameras. Many models are multifunctional because they have built-in compasses and receivers.
3. Large assortment. Choosing a timeless flashlight from a huge variety is very difficult. There are many models, they differ in designs. There are small models, they reach only 5 cm in length. A Faraday flashlight may have different power, functionality and design. Everyone can choose according to their taste, capabilities and needs.

Model overview

There is enough large number options of eternal flashlights designed for various situations and for use in performing various tasks.

Flashlight "Universal"

A Faraday flashlight does not have batteries. You can use it without replacing lamps for 11 years. It withstands wet weather well and can be used even in the rain. The capacitor has a large electrical capacity. In order for the device to charge, you just need to shake it. The LED is equipped with a lens, so the power luminous flux increased.

Lightweight and compact. Made of plastic.

"Hight Power Headlamp" - headlamp model

This option is very convenient because you don’t need to hold it in your hands. It is attached to the forehead using elastic bands. Works without batteries.

There is a charger for charging. Using a cord, it is connected to a charger equipped with a rotating handle. After working the pen for a minute, you can illuminate the space for an hour. The device can be recharged mobile phone. Adapters are designed for charging Nokia phone. It has small dimensions: 5 x 6 cm. The body is made of plastic.

"Dynamo VIP"

Feature - availability additional options. Such a model can serve chargers for mobile phones, cameras. Charging will be enough for half an hour of work electronic devices. All additional adapters are included.

It can operate in two modes, weak on one LED and normal on three. Charging for a minute provides light for one hour.

Overall dimensions - 15.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm, plastic case.

"Piranha"

This model also does not require batteries. There is a handle on the body, the rotation of which charges the battery.

3 minutes of rotating the knob - 40 minutes of continuous illumination. Three LEDs installed. Has several operating modes - flashing, gentle mode with 1 LED and normal mode when all three LEDs light up evenly. Impervious to water, can work successfully at a depth of 10 meters. The rotation angle is 320 degrees. It is very convenient - it can be secured and rotated in the desired direction.

Overall dimensions are 151x50x40 mm. Weight is approximately 150 g. The model comes in a plastic shell.

Solar powered models

These models are presented in the form LED flashlight, powered by light energy. The body of the light device is equipped with a solar battery, which is the main source of energy. Most models this source- not the only one. There is also a dynamo built into the housing.

The handle leading to the dynamo rotates to power it. This action charges the battery. Thus, this model works as if from light energy ( solar battery), and from a dynamo. Due to this combination, the duration of the flashlight increases. It can operate on these energy sources for an hour and a half. If the lamp goes out, it can always be recharged dynamically.

The advantage of the model is its resistance to moisture. It can remain operational at a depth of five meters under water. LEDs installed in the flashlight can “live” 50,000 hours.

Dimensions of the light device: 147x 61x 45 mm. Weight is about 180 g. The body is made of plastic.

Models equipped with a radio and emitting a siren sound

The device is multifunctional. It has a convenient ergonomic housing, in which enough powerful LED. The housing contains a radio receiver and an alarm system equipped with a siren. Such functions will be appreciated by tourists, mushroom and berry pickers, gardeners and car enthusiasts.

The good thing about a dynamo flashlight is that it is independent of the power source. The light device has a manual mechanical drive, with which you can charge a flashlight if there is no power supply nearby. The kit is equipped with headphones, and a speaker is built into the body. Manual charging takes a minute. This is enough for the lantern to shine for ten minutes without interruption.

The downside of this option is that it is susceptible to water.

Video

Watch it in our video? how to upgrade the simplest dynamo lantern.

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Eternal Lantern

kAvrovec» 17 Mar 2015, 17:09

“Yesterday on the street an old woman came up to me and offered to buy an eternal needle for a primus stove. You know, Adam, I didn’t buy it. I don’t need an eternal needle, I don’t want to live forever. I want to die.” (C) (Golden Calf, Ostap Bender) :-)))

Faraday flashlight

chu» 18 Mar 2015, 15:21

I won’t say anything about eternal life, but I like the idea of ​​an eternal flashlight ;)

Now I made a so-called Faraday flashlight. More precisely, a working prototype of a Faraday flashlight.

More precisely, there are two coils connected back to back. The gap between the windings is about 1 mm. The length of each coil is slightly less than the length of the cylindrical magnet. All this is necessary so that a passing magnet creates a current with each of its poles, and so that currents from different poles increase rather than decrease each other. I wound 2 windings side by side, about 400 turns each, with 0.07 mm wire or so. I installed a rectifier diode bridge and loaded it all with an LED.

Shake - the LED lights up! If you don't shake it, it won't burn ;)

Inspired by success, I placed the ionistor in parallel with the LED so that the voltage from the coils would charge the ionistor at the moment of shaking. And when there is no shaking, this ionistor is discharged to the LED. By the way, I recently checked: the LED from the ionistor glows for several minutes! As expected, actually.

So, when I added an ionistor to the circuit, everything stopped glowing: (And the whole point is that the coils produce very little power. Of course, the ionistor can be charged, but you will probably have to shake it for several minutes, which was not part of my plans.

Then, instead of an ionistor, I installed a small capacitor, just to smooth out the ripples and make the LED glow more uniformly. Everything works! This is the option shown in the photo. But the efficiency is very low. A Faraday flashlight can be made effective, but the magnet will have to be much more powerful. And then the eternal flashlight will weigh too much, I think...

In short, bye best option The eternal flashlight is a dynamo. Well, you can still play around with solar energy somehow, but then the dimensions of the lantern will increase.

Eternal Lantern

chu» March 19, 2015, 10:12

A work colleague, looking at my experiments, also called it a different word;)

And then he threw in a link to a porn resource where they talk about the miracle bracelet The Wankband, which generates electricity from shaking. For ethical reasons I am not providing the link; anyone who wants to can find it will find it without any problems. I hope that this is a joke about the bracelet;)

Eternal Lantern

More than 1,600 people have already raised nearly $90,000 on Kickstarter to fund the production of the little eternal lantern. There are no batteries inside; the electricity for the glow is generated by a Peltier element from the heat of the finger.

But inexpensive, prices for various modifications start from 30 bucks;)

You can also order this eternal flashlight with an additional tritium plate, which is visible in the dark. It won't help provide light, but it will make it easier to find a flashlight in complete darkness.

In general, I don’t believe in the usefulness of this particular device. But it’s nice that someone else is tormented by the idea of ​​​​an eternal flashlight;)

Faraday flashlight

chu wrote: Now I made a so-called Faraday flashlight.

But what if we replace that “shaking” with a piezo element from a lighter?
Is it really possible to charge a condenser from it?

I don't know your diagram. but there is another simple one. which squeezes maximum brightness out of the charge.

Guest wrote: there is another simple one. which squeezes maximum brightness out of the charge.
it is usually used in expensive models headlamps. when the batteries give up their charge completely, i.e. The light does not go out smoothly, indicating low battery charge.

here you can still screw it on. The flashlight will always work at the same brightness.

I want to add such a thing to the discharge circuit for a dynamo flashlight.

There are many amateur experiments with electric current. It can be obtained even from the temperature of the human body, as well as by the induction method or the Faraday method. About the first one briefly, and about a flashlight without batteries a little lower and at length enough for everyone to use the method.

Battery finger

A certain community of foreign inventors managed to create a device, or flashlight, Lumen, based on the capabilities of a thermoelectric generator (TEG). It does not generate a powerful beam, but it shines no worse than pocket flashlights from Chinese consumer goods at any bazaar.

This technology, of course, is not applicable for a powerful “spotlight,” but for small pocket flashlights the circuit is simply ideal.

The principle of generating electricity with a mini-TEG in a Lumen flashlight is surprisingly simple. The generation supplies current to several LED “bulbs”. The glow is enough to read or write text in the dark.

The flashlight, weighing only 45 grams, is called a “finger” flashlight. It “turns on” at a temperature (warmth) of less than thirty degrees. It can also turn on at the appropriate air temperature.

The inventors installed a window on the device for your finger - touch it and light will appear. He can work like this without interruption indefinitely. The flashlight was announced for sale for $15. Look at the photo of the eternal flashlight, which never appeared on sale

This message was given by many sites back in 2015, as well as the promise of enthusiasts to begin producing flashlights in a year. In total, they lacked 5 thousand dollars for the final technological breakthrough. But according to the crowdfunding they announced (people's help), in just a couple of days such collections exceeded the amount by 328 percent. Where's the thermal flashlight? The Internet is silent.

Anyone can create alternative light

Craftsmen will be able to assemble a flashlight without any other voltage modulator than a truly effective TEG. It is called “Faraday’s” after the author’s surname. What is its principle? We will tell you what you can use to make an eternal lantern.

This is not to say that a Faraday flashlight does not require a battery. The factory product even has a battery. Let's put it this way: it is completely discharged and the light does not light.

To light it, you need to shake the flashlight, then a neodymium magnet or a whole battery of them runs up and down through the induction coil. This suggests that making a flashlight using batteries and magnets is possible.

An alternating current of 3 volts will appear in it. It passes through the rectifier diode bridge, and its amplitude is equalized, turning the current into direct current. After all, only DC You can charge any batteries, including a flashlight. Once recharged, its battery will turn on the light. But you can “ignite” immediately only from the internal battery charged using a magnet – a “slider”.

The flashlight itself contains the main elements, without which there will be no effect - an electric generator using the solenoid method and battery. The magnets at the top and bottom must receive shocks in reverse side from rubber plugs or metal springs. Then the battery charging and the brightness of the LEDs will be constant.

Here's a homemade one

So, any instruction on how to make an eternal flashlight will say that it can be placed in a cylindrical shape from a piece of PVC tube or plexiglass, as well as placing any structure in a box with a protruding LED light bulb.

You need a couple of magnets from a used one hard drive computers, two rectifier diodes, white LED. The function of energy accumulators will be performed by capacitors.

Let us recall the features of coil winding. The most inductive windings are when the wire is laid thread to thread and layer by layer. This method can be done manually, or with a well-type wrench, but the wire must be factory wound. Then it is easier to transfer it to a new bed.

But we have an amateur design, so the winding is called overlap. Our solenoid consists of a coil with two windings. As you noticed from the diagram on the website, the coil consists of two windings, the total length is 40 mm. Conditionally divide it into two halves. On both sides we wind 600 turns of copper wire with a thickness of 0.08 mm.

Pay attention!

Install magnet repellers in the solenoid. Further installation will be suggested by a diagram for making an eternal flashlight, which you will find on the Internet.

Want a more powerful light source? To make it from a PVC pipe with a diameter of 20 millimeters you will need:

• round neodymium magnets 15x3 mm;
• copper wire;
• low power triode with reverse conduction;
• a bridge of two or four diodes or a 2W10 rectifier;
• resistance;
• powerful capacitor or ionistor 1F 5.5V;
• power button;
• five-volt LED;
• hot glue;

The efficiency of the device depends on the quality of the coil winding. We wind a wire with a diameter of less than ten centimeters on the tube strictly according to the markings - about 500 turns. The first few of them are fixed with glue. The initial row of the coil should be laid close together. Next - as consistently as possible.

Solder the contacts to the places indicated in the diagram, insert neodymium. Shake the cylinder, and soon the LED will shine: you have made an eternal flashlight with your own hands.

Photo of an eternal lantern

Pay attention!

Pay attention!